News: Penang Worst Floods 2017

Penang paralysed by floods

The Star, 5 Nov 2017

GEORGE TOWN: The flood situation in Penang has worsened with flood waters rising to about 10 to 12 feet in Bandar Baru Air Itam, reaching the roof of the landed houses there in the wee hours of Sunday (Nov 5).

Paya Terubong near the former Lee Rubber factory was not spared from the floods.

Netizens posted that areas such as Lintang Sungai Ara and Gurney Drive, which were never flooded before, or had not been flooded for more than 30 years, were now inundated.

From the Facebook page of the Penang Island City Council (MBPP), it said roads that were flooded since 7am on Sunday were Jalan Masjid Negri, Jalan Perak in front of flat Taman Abidin, Jalan Makloom, Jalan Free School, Jalan Terengganu, Jalan Sungai Pinang and Lilitan Stadium.

Other areas that were flooded included Jalan Datuk Keramat in front of Penang Times Square and Jalan Transfer.

Many roads especially those located by the hills, such as Jalan Tun Sardon, Jalan Batu Ferringhi and Jalan Paya Terubong were not passable due to fallen trees.

In his Facebook page, Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi had agreed to send the Royal Malaysian Armed Force to help Penang in a telephone call at about 3.30am on Sunday.

Lim said that the situation in Penang was getting worse as the water level rose and winds were strong.

He urged Penangites to be patient and stay safe, as the state government will try its best to help those in need.

Flash floods hit Penang hard during downpour

The Star, 5 Nov 2017

BUTTERWORTH: Several parts of Penang have suffered flash floods following a downpour while a man died when a tree crushed the house he was in at Kampung Perlis.

Among the worst hit places on the mainland are Sungai Permatang Rawa and residential areas in Prai, Butterworth, and Bukit Mertajam. On the island, Cintra Street, Chulia Street, Church Street and Kimberly Street were flooded as drains overflowed.

Many residents had to be ferried from their homes in Jalan P. Ramlee and Jalan Terengganu by rescue personnel after flood waters reached waist level at about 6pm.

Several minor landslides were reported in Balik Pulau, Minden Heights, Hong Seng Estate and Paya Terubong; 13 people had to be evacuated.

Housewife Zanariah Baharom, 44, who lives in Sungai Permatang Rawa, said the area has been flooding for more than 10 years, but yesterday’s is the worst.

“The water damaged the entire kitchen of my home,” she said, adding that the family hopes the state’s flood mitigation efforts will end the problem.

Factory worker Muhammad Azuan, 41, said he was at work when the floods hit at around 3pm.

“It floods about 10 times a year and each time, the kitchen and ground floor bathroom are affected,” he said.

Penanti assemblyman Dr Norlela Ariffin said the areas in Guar Jering and Guar Perahu are the worst hit.

“Thousands of villagers have been told to prepare for evacuation and we have deployed volunteers to assist,” she said.

Flash floods and minor landslides occurred in Sungai Pinang and Sungai Korok in Balik Pulau, where 90 people were moved out, while water levels went over one metre in Bukit Titi, Sungai Pinang and Jalan Besar.

Penang Island City Council workers were seen clearing fallen trees and broken branches along roads in Balik Pulau and Relau in the rain.

No casualties or deaths due to the floods have been reported.

A photograph posted by the council on Facebook shows a man standing on his car bonnet in Relau after the vehicle stalled in floodwaters.

At the Penang International Airport, its senior manager Ramzi Ahmad confirmed that the bad weather affected the landing of four flights.

The planes had to be diverted to Langkawi or told to return to Kuala Lumpur.

The downpour is expected to continue until today and the state meteorological department has issued an orange alert for persistent heavy rain.Read more

Penang floods: Guan Eng seeks help of armed forces

The Star, 5 Nov 2017

GEORGE TOWN: Penang has sought help from the armed forces after typhoon-like winds and rain lashed the state since Saturday (Nov 4), causing widespread floods, landslides and trees to topple.

In a video posting on his Facebook page Sunday (Nov 5), Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said he called Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi to seek his help and thanked the Deputy Prime Minister for picking up the call although it was almost 3.30am.

“He promised to send the armed forces to save Penang,” said a solemn-looking Lim in the video which was posted shortly after he made the call.

He said the flood waters continue to rise and the winds were still strong.

Lim hoped victims would be patient, saying that the state would try to ensure that help reach them.

In an earlier posting Sunday, he said that such a disaster has never occurred in Penang before and that 80% of the state was hit by typhoon-like winds and incessant heavy rain.

He urged Penangites to stay at home for their safety as the wind was very strong and trees have toppled.

He said Jalan Tun Sardon which links Paya Terubong and Balik Pulau was closed due to a landslide.

Many people working in the night shift in Bayan Lepas were unable to go home in the wee hours of Sunday after floods in Bayan Baru and Relau cut off links to other parts of the island.

It was reported that at least 130 people were evacuated on Saturday after floods hit various parts of Penang following incessant rain since noon.